Smoking implement



March 2, 1937. H. R. sr-:GAL 2,072,431

K v SMOKING IMPLEMENT Filed Feb, 15. 1936 Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STES ATE T FFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in smoking implements and particularly to improvements in filtering structures therefor whereby a cleaner, sweeter, and more desirable smoke may be had.

In years past most of the forms of structure developed for purpose of preventing tobacco laden juice, ashes, or particles of tobacco from entering the mouth of the smoker have depended upon a bafe or pocket structure in the stem or body of the smoking implement.

During the more recent years, however, there has been a growing favor for a structure involving the use of a disposable lter cartridge made of absorbent paper or the like. The chief difiiculty with structures ci this type has grown out of the fact that neither the filter cartridge nor the filter cartridge receiving chambers have shown any tendency toward a standard size. Because of this, a man with a pipe or other smok ing implement constructed to take a particular diameter lter, was often forced to use the pipe without ltering cartridges or to buy and use cartridges having a diameter less than that for which his pipe was designed and as a result the cartridge wabbled about within the smoking im plement and failed to function in the manner in which it was intended. Also, with these old structures there was the ever present possibility and disadvantage of the dirty and saturated undersized lter adversely dropping onto a good rug or the like when the stem and body were initially separated.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ltering structure for smoking implements wherein old, clogged, or saturated filters may be easily and quickly removed, without the use of special tools and wherein clean, new filters may be set in the pipe with comparative ease.

To this end the present invention provides a chamber for filters, between the stem and body of the pipe or other smoking implement which is easily and quickly opened for inspection, loadf ing or replacement by merely separating the stem from the body.

A particularly novel feature of the present invention is the provision of novel means adapted to yieldingly grip and hold a filter in the pipe, or pipe stem, so that the filter will not inadvertently fall onto the floor.

A supplemental feature is the provision of structure for gripping and holding lters relative to a part of the smoking implement; which, however, allows the end of the filter to project ashes from entering the smokers mouth. By lO the use of the present invention, the lter cartridge is held rmly in position, thus preventing this undesirable result.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a connection for uniting a stem to a body on a smoking implement which will be more efiicient and more economical than the screw type connections usually provided.

In the drawing, which shows only the present preferred embodiments of the invention:

Figure l is a side view of a smoking pipe with the stem thereof in section, showing the simplest form of the invention arranged to hold a large iilter cartridge.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Figure 1 showing a telescoping tubular member associated with the sleeve and holding a small diameter filter cartridge in the pipe.

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 2 but with the lter cartridge omitted, the structure serving merely as a baiile.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the sleeve and telescoping tubular member provided by the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 1, but shows the sleeve supporting a small diamter iilter cartridge.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of smoking implement provided by the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, and to Figure 1 in particular, there is shown a pipe l2 including a main body i3 having the usual bowl lll to receive smoking tobacco and having a shank I5 projecting therefrom. The latter is 45 through a connection 5l] associated with a mouth piece portion or pipe stem lli which, in general, externally closely resembles the pipe stems of usual or well known smoln'ng pipes. However,

its internal conguration is distinctly novel as 50 will be described in detail hereinafter.

Through part of its length the pipe stem I6 is provided with a small and usual smoke conducting passage ll, which according to the present invention communicates at its forward end CII with an enlarged filter chamber I8 adapted to receive conventional and well known filtering cartridges.

Appropriately secured within chamber I8 is a sleeve I9, of aluminum or the like, having a portion 2i) projecting outwardly therefrom and entering an lenlarged bore 2| in the body of shank I to make the connection 50 and to join the stem I5 to the body of shank I5. In order that this connection may be made more secure, the outwardly projecting portion may be advantageously formed with a longitudinal split 22 increasing the resilience of the sleeve and thus causing it to firmly grip the walls of the bore 2 I.

Of particular importance, this sleeve I9 is provided with a bore or chamber 5I which serves the important function of locating and supporting cartridge filters and will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Thus, the sleeve I9 serves both as a removable or separable connection for joining the mouth piece portion to the shank, and as a chamber 5I for locating and supporting cartridge filters. In connection with the form-er, it may be pointed out that it effects certain economies in manufacturing cost since it does away with the usual expensive connection comprising a thread on the usual stem of bakelite or the like and cooperating thread in the usual wood body. Both of the latter represent rather expensive and tricky manufacturing operations and considerable rejections.

Preferably the sleeve is fully or substantially closed throughout its periphery in order to direct smoke into the front of the iilter, and to prevent smoke :from passing lengthwise around and outside the filter directly to the smokers mouth.

Of further, and particular importance the sleeve i9 is provided with one or more resilient gripping lingers 24, two being shown; which, broadly stated, serve the important purpose of holding filters interchangeably in the chamber 5I and of holding a telescoping tube 3l] therein as hereinafter elaborated upon.

Carried in the sleeve I9, as shown in Fig. 1, is a large diameter filter cartridge 23 gripped and held therein by the resilient ngers 24 which may be conveniently formed integral with the sleeve by cutting out and bending inwardly portions of the same (see Fig. 4). The filter cartridge illustrated is of the same general construction as the one disclosed in Patent No. 1,919,959. Cooperating with these resilient fingers to maintain the large cartridge from movement relative to the stem is the internal circumferential shoulder 25 against which the filter cartridge is held.

It is the provision of these resilient gripping fingers 24 which constitutes one of the important features of the invention. Thus, even though the nlter cartridges used may vary in diameter (and in length), because of the yielding and automatically adjustable nature of the fingers, the cartridge will nevertheless be gripped and centered in the filter chamber I8. This is strikingly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 where a small diameter cartridge 23a is shown just as rmly gripped and centered as is the large cartridge 23 shown in Figure l.

In the absence of a means to center the cartridge with relation to the smoke passage I I and to hold it against the shoulder 25 the cartridge would not function properly. If the cartridge is not held firmly against the shoulder the tobacco, chips, ashes, and tobacco soaked saliva will find their way to the smokers mouth by passing along the outside of the filter (especially the one of small diameter-23a). If the cartridge is not properly centered the smoke will not all pass through the center bore 2t of the filter cartridge as intended but will pass around the outside directly to the aperture 2l. In addition, if a cartridge is not centered properly it will at least partially clog the smoke passage I'I and cause the pipe to draw poorly.

As a further feature, the shoulder 25 against which the filter cartridge is held, may be beveled. This feature is of considerable importance and supplements the resilient ngers in centering the lter cartridge, serving as it does to firmly grip and support the end of the cartridge regardless of its diameter.

A device constructed in accordance with this invention will thus be seen to be highly efficient even though simple in design. And, when a cartridge through extensive use becomes clogged and unfit, it may be easily replaced. In this connection the mouth piece portion is moved away from the shank of the pipe. Hence sleeve I9 slidably and telesccpically receiving tube 3D is withdrawn from the shank I5. Since however tube i is frictionally carried by sleeve I9, withdrawal of the latter from shank l5, also causes the removal of tube 29.

Thus withdrawn or separated, access may be readily had to the enclosed filter, by slidably removing or detaching the tube from the sleeve. Therefore the used filter may be readily removed and a new one substituted. The fact that the old cartridge is firmly held in the sleve by the resilient fingers 2G prevents it from falling out on the floor when the smoking implement is pulled apart.

If it is desired to have a smooth passage between the shank i3 and the stem I6 after the sleeve I9 has been inserted, a slight shoulder 28 may be formed in the bore 2i of the shank against which the outer end of the sleeve may abut. This construction is advantageous in that by making a smooth connection or joint between the sleeve and the shank chance of the juice from the pipe or other smoking implement getting to the mouth of the smoker is still further minimized.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, there is shown, in addition to a sleeve I9, a telescoping means 29 which is movable longitudinally of the sleeve I9 for holding a filter cartridge 23a in position in the stem. This means comprises a tubular member 3i! completely enclosing the filter cartridge 23a and having an internal circumferential inclined shoulder 3l at one end engageable with and for positioning the other end of the cartridge 23a.

The sleeve I9 with which this tubular member is slidably and telescopically associated may be, and as shown is, of precisely the same construction and is fixedly associated with the shank I5 and the mouth stem I6 in exactly the same manner as the sleeve shown in Figure l. This sleeve, together with the telescoping member, is shown in perspective in Fig. 4.

With this construction, in which the cartridge is completely enclosed, the smoke is positively directed through the flared opening 32 defined by the inclined annular shoulder 3l of the telescoping tube and into the central bore oi the filter cartridge, thus insuring a utilization of the filter cartridge in the most efficient manner.

As a means for further insuring a proper directing of the smoke into the cartridge, the telescoping member is advantageously provided with a reduced tubular extension 33 integral with and concentrically overhanging the flared or expanded intermediate inclined shoulder or stop means 3|. This feature, in addition to properly directing the smoke, serves also as a further means for stopping the flow of objectionable tobacco juice into the mouth of the smoker since it tends to bailie the saliva and to make it collect in the supplementary chamber 34.

The tube 30 serves similarly to the resilient fingers 24 as hereinbefore described, to insure the holding of the cartridge rmly against the shoulder 25 found in the mouth stem, and because of the frictional grip due to the resiliency of the split sleeve the tubular member 3 is held from falling out of the sleeve l S when the mouth piece is detached from the shank for the purpose of changing the lter cartridge.

According to the invention sleeve i3 and the slidable tube with reduced portion 33 constitute complementary slidably associated components defining a lengthwise adjustable housing having means for appropriately positioning an absorbent lter cartridge. The tube 33, the flared shoulder 3 i, together with the overhanging tubular reducedportion 33 are a part of a one piece hollow member and in effect may be considered as a slidable and adjustable cartridge or insert, the reduced portion 33 thereof serving to baille or screen chips or tobacco, saliva or the like traversing the bore of the shank, and also functioning to direct the smoke fumes into the interior thereof, the rearwardly expanding shoulder 3l serving to expand and cool the smoke fumes while the relatively long body of the tube which is many times greater than the length of the relatively short reduced portion 33 forming a supporting moisture collector and conducts the smoke fumes into the sleeve. In other words, where an absorbent filter as 23a. or the like is not utilized, the lter cartridge formed by tube 3l), shoulder 3l and the reduced portion 33 functions as a moisture separator and saliva and chip baiiling means as is well understood.

The modication in Fig. 6 shows the invention applied to a cigar or cigarette holder in which a cigar or cigarette holding cup 35 has been substituted for a pipe bowl. If desired this cup may be, and as shown is provided with a reversible adapter member 33 having an enlarged opening 3l at one end for receiving a cigar and a smaller opening 33 at the other end for receiving a cigarette. This adapter may advantageously be formed with threads 39 on its outer surface cooperable with threads itil formed in the cup 35. Thus, if it is wished to convert the holder from a cigar holder as shown, to a cigarette holder, it is necessary merely to remove the adapter 36, reverse it, and screw it into the cup with the smaller cigarette retaining opening 38 in operative position to receive the cigarette.

The only difference between the filtering structure illustrated in Fig. 6 and the one described in connection with Fig. l is the provision of a slightly modified sleeve ld having a threaded connection 4l between the sleeve and the shank I instead of the frictional engagement provided by splitting the end of the sleeve as shown at 22 in Fig. 4. As with the other forms of the invention the tubular member 3U may be used or dispensed with, as preferred.

In Fig. 3, the structure of Fig. 2 is shown with the lter cartridge 23a removed. In this form, while the results are not as satisfactory as in the case where the cartridge is used, they are nevertheless sumeiently meritorious to justify its use in those places where filter cartridges cannot be had. The juice, tobacco particles, and ashes are largely confined in the supplemental chamber 34 in the shank by the stop shoulder 3i, and are thereby to a great extent prevented from entering the interior of the bore of the housing by the tubular projection 33. The filter chamber, itself, acts as a settling chamber and further eliminates the objectionable matters.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

l. A smoking implement having a hollow shank and a mouthpiece, said shank and mouthpiece having bores in alinement, a connecting hollow sleeve flXedly secured in one of the bores and slidably and adjustably secured in the other, and a tubular insert in frictional and slidable relation to the inner wall of the sleeve and adapted to be maintained in various stationary positions` relative to said sleeve whereby smoke entering the shank bore may be directed into said insert in one or more different circuitous paths.

2. A. mouth piece for a smoking implement having a bore, a tubular member secured within said bore and having a portion projecting a substantial distance exteriorly of said mouth piece, and a tubular insert of greater length than said projecting part whereby the outer end of said insert may be maintained at various distances from said projecting part so as to form therewith a smoke conducting passage adapted to be adjusted to various lengths.

3. A smoking implement comp-rising a hollow shank having a reduced channel and elongated bore in communication with said channel, a mouth piece portion having an opening in alinement with said bore of said shank, a sleeve having an inner portion iixedly retained within said opening and having a part projecting beyond said mouth piece portion exteriorly thereof and removably and frictionally extending within said bore, a tubular insert of greater length than said projecting part and frictionally and slidably cooperating with said sleeve to permit longitudinal displacement of said insert relative to said sleeve, said sleeve having a flared hollow portion and a reduced terminal tubular portion extending from a contracted part of said flared portion, said insert and sleeve defining a smoke conducting chamber, said reduced portion adapted to be disposed adjacent said channel upon displacement of said insert longitudinally of said sleeve correspondingly varying the length of said chamber adapted to conduct the passage of smoke therethrough or adapted for the reception of an absorbent lter cartridge.

4. A smoking implement comprising, in combination, a tubular shank, a hollow mouth piece portion, a sleeve having a part retained within said mouth piece portion and in communication with the bore thereof and including a part extending exteriorly beyond one end thereof and adapted to removably and frictionally engage the bore of said shank, slidable tubular means adjustable longitudinally of said sleeve and defining therewith a cartridge receiving chamber and comprising a relatively elongated body of greater length than said exteriorly extending part and removably and slidably associated with said sleeve to provide a smoke conducting chamber and comprising a tapered contracted portion in respect to said body, and a relatively short reduced tubular portion integral with said tapered portion and said body and concentrically and spatially disposed inthe bore of said shank, and spaced spring means carried by said sleeve for positioning said slidable tubular means relative to said mouth piece portion.

5. A smoking implement comprising, in combination, a tubular shank, a hollow mouth piece portion having an axially disposed smoke conducting opening in communication with the bore of said shank, a sleeve secured in said opening and having a part projecting exteriorly of said mouth piece portion and adapted to frictionally and removably t within said bore, a tubular insert comprising a one piece hollow member having an elongated body of a length greater than the length of said exteriorly projecting part and having a portion adapted to be slidably and telescopically associated with said sleeve to extend within the limits of said mouth piece portion and having another part extending beyond said exteriorly projecting part to project within the bore of said shank, a contracted hollow portion integral with said body and disposed beyond said exteriorly projecting part, and a relatively short reduced hollow terminal projection integral with said contracted portion.

6. In a smoking implement comprising, in combination, a tubular shank, a hollow mouth piece portion having an axially disposed smoke conducting opening in alinement with and in communication with the bore of said shank and having a shoulder, a sleeve having one end abutting said shoulder and secured within said opening and having a part projecting exteriorly beyond said mouth piece portion and adapted to removably and frictionally t the bore of said shank, a tubular insert comprising a one piece hollow member having an elongated body of greater length than the length of said exteriorly projecting part, said sleeve cooperating to slidably and frictionally receive said body and dening therewith a smoke conducting and saliva collecting chamber, a contracted hollow portion integral with said body and disposed considerably beyond said exterorly projecting part, and a relatively short hollow reduced terminal portion integral with said contracted portion and extending beyond the latter and away from said exteriorly projecting part.

7. In a smoking implement, the combination of, a stem, a sleeve in said stem, a iilter, said stem having an internal shoulder at one end abutting said sleeve, and a telesooping tubular member associated with said sleeve having an internal circumferential ilange adjacent one end engageable with said lter to maintain the latter in contact with said shoulder.

HYMAN R. SEGAL. 

